A visit from the new Bishop of Pittsburgh reminded me how full the average bishop’s schedule is. Bishop Dorsey McConnell had received an honorary doctorate the night before coming to Incarnation for an elaborate ordination in our church. Following a reception in our parish house, he rushed to Newark Airport where he was to have dinner with a clergyperson before boarding a plane that would get him into Pittsburgh some time after midnight.

The previous week, the bishop had been in Uganda as part of another ministry he is involved in. And he is stretched even though, because of a split some years ago, the Diocese of Pittsburgh is one of the smallest dioceses in the Episcopal Church.

A salutary reminder to those of us who are prone to criticize our bishops that their public ministries (and their unseen work of sorting out parish and clergy crises) would exhaust most people. If they fail to do some things we might like them to do, they do succeed in doing many things we are glad we don’t have to do. –J. Douglas Ousley

A clergy friend of mine happened by coincidence to be in Rome this month, attending a conference. An even greater coincidence had him staying at the same clerical residence where the new Pope was residing before he was elected. My friend was able to shake Francis’ hand when he left the residence to assume his new duties.

As the Pope departed, many observers noted that he carried his own bag. Commentators rightly noted that this reflected a humility not always evident in the highest prelates of the Church.

Whatever Francis does or says in the years ahead, we may hope that his gesture won’t be forgotten. And as Easter approaches, may we all carry our own baggage of sin to the Cross, and may we all accept the gift of new life in our Risen Savior. –J. Douglas Ousley